Valencia Basket play-caller Pedro Martinez made club history on Tuesday night, overtaking Miki Vukovic as the coach with the most games in charge of the Taronjas – and he marked the occasion in style with an important and convincing win over Paris Basketball, 98-84.

Pedro Martinez makes history as Valencia returns to winning ways against Paris

[Valencia Basket](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/valencia-basket/pam/) play-caller Pedro Martinez made club history on Tuesday night, overtaking Miki Vukovic as the coach with the most games in charge of the Taronjas – and he marked the occasion in style with an important and convincing win over [Paris Basketball](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/paris-basketball/prs/), 98-84.

The Spanish side’s outstanding season had been in danger of stuttering after suffering consecutive defeats against AS Monaco and Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul, so there was a fair degree of pressure on Martinez and his men as they prepared to face a dangerous Paris team which ranked second in the league in scoring.

Any nerves were settled very early on, though, as Valencia raced into a 15-2 lead in the opening three minutes and 20 seconds, propelled by a trio of players whose dominance would continue throughout the game: [Kam Taylor](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/kameron-taylor/011217/) netted 6 of those early points, [Neal Sako](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/neal-sako/010545/) added 4, and [Jean Montero](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/jean-montero/010042/) complemented 4 assists with a three-pointer that forced visiting coach Francesco Tabellini into a very early timeout.

The fast start set the tone for the rest of the game, which saw Valencia lead from start to finish and spend most of the game sitting pretty on a series of double-digit advantages. Paris never seriously threatened to get back into the game, even after the hosts lost a lot of their earlier rhythm in a fragmented second half mostly marked by free throws.

Valencia Basket-Paris Basketball | Round 23 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague

Taylor continued to shine as he finished with a career-high 28 points on 8-of-13 field goal shooting plus a perfect 10-of-10 from the foul line, ensuring that the outcome was effectively decided long before the final buzzer.

The home team’s intense defense also played a big part in that, too, especially with Paris sharpshooter [Nadir Hifi](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nadir-hifi/012640/) – the league’s leading scorer – restricted to a rare quiet night as he netted just 8 points, going 0-of-4 from beyond the three-point line.

Martinez underlined that all-round effort after the game, telling EuroLeague TV: “We played good defense for more time than not, and we played with good rhythm and good defense against Nadir \[Hifi\], who is one of the best players in Europe.”

The veteran coach, who is in his second spell with Valencia after returning to the East Coast club at the start of last season, received a commemorative framed jersey before the game, honoring his 232 games in charge of the team.

That tally takes him to the top of the club’s all-time list ahead of Vukovic, who coached Valencia between 1995 and 2000, winning the 1998 Spanish Cup and helping to establish the team as a serious player on the European stage.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">🙌 𝐏𝐄𝐃𝐑𝐎 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐈́𝐍𝐄𝐙 🙌<br><br>Nuestro entrenador Pedro Martínez recibe, de manos del director general Enric Carbonell, la camiseta que le acredita como el entrenador con más partidos de nuestra historia masculina. Con el de hoy, 232 partidos al frente del equipo, superando… <a href="https://t.co/5rDXNThr42">pic.twitter.com/5rDXNThr42</a></p>&mdash; Valencia Basket Club (@valenciabasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/valenciabasket/status/2013695269284515947?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 20, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

In his usual understated manner, though, Martinez did not want to dwell for too long on his personal achievement as he said: “I’m very happy for this \[coaching record\] because surpassing a legend like Miki is an honor for me and I’m very happy to be coaching this club. But we need to live in the present, not the past or the future, and the present is another game on Thursday.”

That same message has obviously been drummed into Martinez’s players, because star performer Taylor also insisted his attention was turning immediately to Thursday’s trip to FC Bayern Munich, commenting: “We definitely needed this one and I’m proud of the way the guys came out and finished the game off.

“I’ll be happy for a couple of hours, but we’ve got another game in a couple of days against Munich, so the focus is on that.”

For the visitors it was another tough loss to take, leaving the French team six wins adrift of the playoff places with few signs of a sudden surge up the standings.

And Coach Tabellini was making no excuses, admitting the better team won as he said: “We have another game in 48 hours and we will get back, stick together, and play better basketball.

“Our opponents were outstanding. They had a tremendous performance from the beginning, and we were not able to match the level of intensity they showed from the first minute.”

Struggling to match Valencia’s intensity has been a recurring problem for teams across Europe this season, and much of the credit for that must go to Martinez’s coaching. On this occasion, whether he wants them or not, the headlines belong to him.

Game News

The Spanish side led from start to finish to comfortably overcome the French side

Valencia Basket v Paris Basketball (2026-01-20T19:30:00.000Z)

Short‑handed, stung by a 38‑point defeat just days earlier, and riding a seven‑game losing streak, Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade marched into Munich and found exactly what it had been missing: resistance and resolve. In a 67-63 road win over FC Bayern Munich at SAP Garden, Partizan rediscovered its defensive bite. 

Payne ignites Partizan in Munich as Calathes steers team out of 7 game slide

Short‑handed, stung by a 38‑point defeat just days earlier, and riding a seven‑game losing streak, Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade marched into Munich and found exactly what it had been missing: resistance and resolve. In a 67-63 road win over FC Bayern Munich at SAP Garden, Partizan rediscovered its defensive bite.

The visitors were anything but alone; thousands of traveling supporters — and members of the local Serbian community — turned the arena into a black‑and‑white chorus that lifted the team during its most disciplined showing of the season.

Partizan did it the hard way, and with a patchwork rotation. Missing Carlik Jones, Shake Milton, Jabari Parker, Vanja Marinkovic, and Duane Washington, the visitors leaned on an unlikely pairing to carry the night: a EuroLeague newcomer and one of the competition’s most decorated veterans. In just his sixth game in the league, Cameron Payne delivered a career‑high 16 points along with 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals, repeatedly producing answers when Bayern threatened. Nick Calathes supplied the poise, tempo control, and timely stops that steadied Partizan through every momentum swing.

"We were a few men down today, so we had to stick together, play together and just find a way to win. So shout out to all the guys. It wasn't just me," Payne said. "Tonight we played together and we didn't quit. We stayed together as a team. We fought through adversity and we just found a way to win."

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From the opening tip, the defensive course correction was unmistakable. Four days after conceding 104 points to Olympiacos Piraeus, Partizan held Bayern scoreless for more than 5 minutes in the first quarter. After a 5–3 start, triples by Payne, Dylan Osetkowski, and Sterling Brown fueled a 0-15 avalanche that flipped the game’s tone and stake; after 10 minutes, the visitors led 7-18, having forced hurried shots and 5 turnovers in a near‑perfect defensive frame.

Bayern regrouped in the second quarter. With Andreas Obst sidelined by flu‑like symptoms, Justinian Jessup stepped forward for 8 points, trimming the deficit to 30–34 by halftime. Partizan’s offense stuttered inside the arc (4‑for‑12 on twos), but its perimeter precision (8‑for‑14, 57.1% from three) kept Coach Joan Penarroya’s team in front.

After the break, Bayern briefly slipped ahead, but Partizan’s composure held through Calathes’s fingerprints on every crucial sequence — a deflection here, a defensive rebound there, a perfectly timed feed to settle the half‑court. His line — 8 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals — reflected the all‑around influence that kept Bayern chasing rather than dictating.

Xavier Rathan‑Mayes dragged Bayern level once more at 56–56, but the final act belonged to Partizan’s closers. Payne answered with an acrobatic three‑point play, Isaac Bonga sliced in for a bucket for a 56-61 cushion, and the duo then sparked a decisive burst that stretched the gap to 58-67 inside the final minute — the separation Partizan had been hunting all night.

Down the stretch, the visitors defended with clarity and bite. In the fourth quarter, Partizan surrendered just 13 points, holding Bayern to 2-of-8 on two‑pointers and 1-of-10 from deep — a stark, satisfying contrast to the open looks conceded in recent weeks.

"I think we played a solid game. We had problems with our turnovers, but I think we played consistent defense, controlled the pace and I think we deserve to win the game," Penarroya said. "I am happy because I think the players understand the kind of game we needed to play today for a win, and at the end we achieved an important victory."

The victory halts Partizan’s longest losing streak since 2012 and marks a milestone for Penarroya — his first EuroLeague win since taking charge. The team remains in Munich for a designated home date against Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv on Friday, while Bayern hosts Valencia Basket at SAP Garden on Thursday.

With fan support booming in Munich, Partizan overcomes adversity and gives Coach Penarroya his first EuroLeague victory

FC Bayern Munich v Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (2026-01-20T19:30:00.000Z)

Riding some momentum following victory in El Clásico against FC Barcelona last week, Real Madrid cruised past a helpless EA7 Emporio Armani Milan on Tuesday night. The Spanish side’s defense suffocated the visitors, with the hosts grabbing a 106-77 win to open the double-round week with a bang.

Real Madrid locks down Milan to grab 11th home win

Riding some momentum following victory in *El Clásico* against FC Barcelona last week, [Real Madrid](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/real-madrid/mad/) cruised past a helpless EA7 Emporio Armani Milan on Tuesday night. The Spanish side’s defense suffocated the visitors, with the hosts grabbing a 106-77 win to open the double-round week with a bang.

Defense may have clinched the victory, but it was offense that got Real Madrid going in the first quarter. The hosts went 12-for-17 from the field to take a 30-23 lead into the second quarter, when its defense took over by holding Milan to just 13 points.

Real Madrid took a 52-33 lead into the halftime break and never looked back, but this is common theme when *Los Blancos* are playing at home this season. 

Real Madrid-EA7 Emporio Armani Milan | Round 23 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague

In fact, Sergio Scariolo's squad have lost just one of the 12 games they have disputed at Movistar Arena this term.

“We’re just trying to take care of home court,” [Trey Lyles](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/trey-lyles/014117/) told EuroLeague TV after the game. “It’s important for us to get wins here. We were struggling earlier in the season to get wins on the road, so being able to win consistently at home is definitely helping us a lot.”

Lyles came off the bench and scored 11 of Real Madrid’s 24 points in the second quarter. In the space of less than four minutes, the 30-year-old forward took over by netting 11 straight points as his team took a 45-31 lead.

“I think that since day one we are trying to build the defensive identity and offensive identity,” Coach Scariolo stressed after the game. “Obviously, we are more of an offensively-minded team, but I think that the players are understanding and learning and working hard.”

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">💪 <a href="https://twitter.com/TreyLyles?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TreyLyles</a>, MVP del partido vs <a href="https://twitter.com/OlimpiaMI1936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OlimpiaMI1936</a> <a href="https://t.co/Q3iiHxmX2Z">pic.twitter.com/Q3iiHxmX2Z</a></p>&mdash; Real Madrid Basket (@RMBaloncesto) <a href="https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto/status/2013735717684265189?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 20, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Six players registered double digits in scoring, as Lyles paced his team with 17 points, [Mario Hezonja](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mario-hezonja/003108/) netted 13, [David Kramer](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/david-kramer/006482/) bagged a career-high 12 and [Andres Feliz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/andres-feliz/011247/) scored 11, with [Alberto Abalde](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/alberto-abalde/003733/) and [Walter Tavares](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/walter-tavares/005791/) recording 10 each.

Real Madrid was unstoppable inside the arc, with the hosts making 26 of their 36 attempts (72.2% 2FG). They also went 12-for-21 (57.1%) from deep, pairing their strong defensive display with an equally dominant performance on the other side of the floor.

“We can score in a variety of ways,” Lyles added. “We’ve got guys who can shoot the ball and score inside. Just being able to knock down the shots more consistently now is definitely helping offensively.”

Scariolo’s side extended their winning streak to five games in 2026. Their last defeat dates back to late December at the hands of AS Monaco, which is set to visit the Spanish capital on Thursday. 

With both teams boasting a 15-8 record, the upcoming clash offers the opportunity to climb further up the standings. And taking into account Real Madrid’s home record this season, the hosts are very likely to be the ones doing so.

The Spanish side has lost just one of its 12 games at Movistar Arena this season

Real Madrid v EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (2026-01-20T19:45:00.000Z)

Dario Brizuela made the most of a rare starting opportunity, scoring 25 points and sinking the decisive shot with 2.3 seconds left as FC Barcelona edged Dubai Basketball 91–89, bouncing back strongly from its loss to Real Madrid.

Barcelona bounces back to beat Dubai behind Brizuela

FC Barcelona shook off its bruising loss to Real Madrid in the best way possible — by handing the keys to an unexpected hero. Dario Brizuela, given a rare place in the starting lineup, seized the moment and electrified Palau Blaugrana.

Brizuela rewarded Xavi Pascual’s trust with a season‑high explosion: 25 points, capped by a cold‑blooded floater with 2.3 seconds left to seal a 91–89 thriller over Dubai Basketball.

“Today was a must-win for us after the loss on Friday to Madrid, so I had to help the team. Everybody played great today. It was good for us today,” said Brizuela, who was only two points off his career high in scoring.

Brizuela had only started 7 games in his 88-game EuroLeague career - the last one coming in Round 34 of the 2023-24 season. He scored Barcelona’s first 7 points of the game and then played a major role in building a double-digit lead in the third quarter with 14 points in the period. He also helped out with 2 rebounds and 4 assists.

“The truth is that it went well for us. We wanted to change something because in the last few games we hadn't started well at all on an offensive level,” Pascual said of the change in the starting five.

“We knew we would lose a bit of height and maybe suffer a bit with some rebounding, but we wanted to control a bit more with three creative players who could always attack the weakest part of the opposing team and we did quite well what we were looking for. Every game is different. Today we sacrificed some things we had been doing to go a different way, to change things, and in the end it worked out quite well because we ended up winning.”

Brizuela was there when it counted most, hitting a jumper with 42 seconds left to make it 89-88, and then in Barcelona’s final possession, he drove to the lane and rose for a floater which went in for the final scoreline 91-89.

Brizuela partnered well with Kevin Punter, who poured in 20 points of his own.

“I played last season a little bit with him, too. We like playing with each other. We are kind of both the same way. He’s a better scorer than me but we both put a lot of pressure on the defense. When we are on the court together they have to focus on both of us. That is how we tried to play today and it worked out,” Brizuela said.

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“It was a gritty win. They fought back when we were up 12. We were able to finish it out. Dario made some big-time plays,” added Punter.

After Dubai finished the first quarter ahead 18-22, Punter keyed a big 14-2 run in the second quarter to lead 41-30 and the score was 49-41 at the break.

Brizuela knocked down 3 three-pointers in the third quarter as Barcelona pulled away and was up 79-67 after 30 minutes.

Dubai worked its way back into the game with 3 triples and knotted the score 83-83. Dwayne Bacon added another three-pointer and it was 87-88 before Brizuela’s heroics.

Dubai has struggled all season to win away from home. With this loss, it fell to 10-13 overall and 2-10 on the road. McKinley Wright scored a career-high 29 points to go with 5 assists while Mfiondu Kabengele had 13 points.

“We had our chances. The last two possessions we didn’t defend very well and they made their baskets and won the game. We gave up too many second-chance points,” said Dubai head coach Jurica Golemac, who did see the return of Dzanan Musa for the first time since Round 3 and he had 5 points in 14 minutes. 

“Most of the game we played good - aggressive, physical and finding the people where we wanted them. But in the end, unfortunately we didn’t win it.”

Dario Brizuela scored a team-high 25 points in his first start of the season

FC Barcelona v Dubai Basketball (2026-01-20T19:30:00.000Z)

Sasha Vezenkov was too much to handle for Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv on Tuesday evening. Riding an extraordinary momentum, the Olympiacos Piraeus forward pulled off another ultra-efficient outing as the hosts beat the Israeli side 100-93 at Peace and Friendship Stadium.

Vezenkov strikes again as Olympiacos defeats Maccabi

Sasha Vezenkov was too much to handle for Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv on Tuesday evening. Riding an extraordinary momentum, the Olympiacos Piraeus forward pulled off another ultra-efficient outing as the hosts beat the Israeli side 100-93 at Peace and Friendship Stadium.

Vezenkov looked unstoppable from the off, dealing blow after blow to a bewildered Maccabi defense. After missing his first attempt from inside the arc, he went 2-for-3 on twos, 3-for-3 from deep and 2-for-2 from the free-throw line, ending the first quarter with 15 points.

Despite not going to the charity stripe again in the next three quarters, Vezenkov bagged 28 points, which he paired with 6 rebounds in yet another sublime performance.

“I’m feeling good,” he told EuroLeague TV. “I have confidence, but for me, the most important is the team to win. And, as I said many times, the most important thing is to keep working, keep believing in what you’re doing and we have to get along.”

Having grabbed a narrow 27-24 advantage heading into the second quarter, Olympiacos saw its second unit step up on both ends of the floor. Tyrique Jones, Tyson Ward and Evan Fournier took over by netting 4 each, as their team opened a 39-32 lead.

What followed was a 23-2 surge to end the second quarter, with Fournier taking his tally to 12 points as Olympiacos secured a 55-32 cushion at halftime.

“The way the team is playing right now is really good,” Fournier said. “We have a good team going and I think each and every one of us coming into the game, we are trying to have an impact on winning and that’s the most important thing.”

The Frenchman tied his career-high by recording 9 of his team’s 29 assists. For yet another game, Olympiacos shared the ball well, with 10 players getting at least 1 assist. Meanwhile, the hosts outrebounded Maccabi 40-25, with 18 offensive rebounds which led to 25 second-chance points.

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The Reds reached the 100-point mark for the fourth game in a row across all competitions, with Vezenkov scoring at least 24 points in five consecutive EuroLeague games.

In that stretch, the Olympiacos forward has shot 29-for-39 from inside the arc and 16-for-25 from beyond the arc, constantly terrorizing opposing defenses. Simply put, he's inevitable.

“For one more game, we showed that our potential, our ceiling is too high, scoring 100 points again without having any crazy percentages,” head coach Georgios Bartzokas said in the post-game press conference.

Maccabi bounced back in the second half, outscoring Olympiacos 42-59, but the hosts were in control of the game throughout. Having grabbed its sixth win in seven games, the Reds have opened the double-round week as they hoped and will look to double their victories by beating Anadolu Efes Istanbul on Thursday.

However, it should be noted that Olympiacos hasn’t won at Efes since December 2017, meaning that the Turkish side will push for its eighth straight home win over the Reds.

To do so, they will need to succeed where many teams have fallen short lately: contain a red-hot Vezenkov who shows no sign of slowing down in 2026.

The 30-year-old shot 10-for-14 from the field en route to 28 points

Olympiacos Piraeus v Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv (2026-01-20T17:15:00.000Z)

Despite appearing in just two EuroLeague games this season and averaging 1.5 points per contest, Vassilis Toliopoulos seized his opportunity Tuesday night, pouring in a game-high 21 points to lead Panathinaikos BC to victory against Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz.

Dream night from Vassilis Toliopoulos powers Panathinaikos past Baskonia

“It was something unbelievable,” [Vassilis Toliopoulos](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/vassilis-toliopoulos/004292/) said after delivering a career-best scoring performance to lift [Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/panathinaikos-aktor-athens/pan/) to a comfortable 93-74 win over [Kosner Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/baskonia-vitoria-gasteiz/bas/).

“I couldn’t imagine I would be in this situation, with Panathinaikos fans chanting my name. Such a historical team. You can’t imagine my feelings right now, and I thank them so much for the support.”

The home crowd’s chants were well deserved. Despite appearing in just two EuroLeague games this season and averaging 1.5 points per contest, the 29-year-old seized his opportunity Tuesday night, pouring in a game-high 21 points to lead the Greens to victory.

Entering the matchup with the stronger record and home-court advantage, Panathinaikos were clear favorites. Still, the contest opened evenly, with neither side able to fully assert control. That changed late in the first quarter, when the hosts pulled away with a scoring surge led by center [Richaun Holmes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/richaun-holmes/014011/).

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens-Kosner Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz | Round 23 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague

The momentum continued into the second period, as Panathinaikos stretched the lead behind swarming defense and efficient shot-making. By halftime, the Greeks had opened up a 17-point cushion and firmly taken command.

The third quarter belonged entirely to Toliopoulos. The Greek guard caught fire from beyond the arc, pushing the margin further and putting the game well out of Baskonia’s reach. He eventually exited to a standing ovation, his name echoing throughout Telekom Center Athens.

In a season-high 26 minutes, Toliopoulos knocked down 5-of-9 attempts from three-point range and finished 6-of-12 from the field overall. He added 5 assists and did not commit a single turnover. Afterward, he credited his performance to staying ready.

“As a player, I am always ready. I don’t care what happened in the past,” Toliopoulos said. “If I wait one month to play, or one year, I will always be ready to help my team, and that’s what I did today.”

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Your behind-the-scenes action is back. This time along with Vassilis Toliopoulos’s &amp; Kostas Sloukas’s entrance in the lockers 👀 🙌🏼<br><br>Enjoy the full video on CLUB 1908: <a href="https://t.co/O0jvBD37wn">https://t.co/O0jvBD37wn</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeTheGreens?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeTheGreens</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/paobcaktor?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#paobcaktor</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Club1908?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Club1908</a> <a href="https://t.co/5rXLPDdDXQ">pic.twitter.com/5rXLPDdDXQ</a></p>&mdash; Panathinaikos BC (@Paobcgr) <a href="https://twitter.com/Paobcgr/status/2013734480092025158?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 20, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Kostas Sloukas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kostas-sloukas/001926/) was one of three other Panathinaikos players to score in double figures, along with Holmes and [Alexandros Samodurov](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/alexandros-samodurov/011442/). Sloukas expressed pride in his compatriot’s breakout showing and hopes it can become a regular contribution.

“He’s a good player,” Sloukas said. “I respect him a lot. He’s aggressive, and I like this – Panathinaikos basketball. He sacrifices his body on offense and defense. He played an excellent game today, and now he has to find the power to continue like this.”

Head coach Ergin Ataman also praised Toliopoulos for capitalizing on his opportunity, with fellow guard [TJ Shorts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/tj-shorts/012608/) having the first DNP of his career. While noting that the return of [Kendrick Nunn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/kendrick-nunn/012774/) and others from injury will affect the rotation, Ataman said the guard earned his moment.

“Players like Toliopoulos and Samodurov take minutes in the Greek League to show they’re ready,” Ataman said. “This week, I saw that both players were ready, and now we can use them in the EuroLeague.”

The win moved Panathinaikos to 14-9 on the season and strengthens its push for a playoff spot. They will travel to Menora Mivtachim Arena on Thursday to face Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv.

Baskonia, meanwhile, dropped to 8-15 as its two-game winning streak came to an end. Paolo Galbiati’s side will next face reigning champions Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul on Friday.

With TJ Shorts kept on the bench, the Greek guard seized his opportunity

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens v Kosner Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (2026-01-20T19:15:00.000Z)

 A high‑intensity comeback in Sofia saw Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv overturn a double‑digit deficit to defeat Anadolu Efes Istanbul 71–66, powered by Ish Wainright’s two‑way surge and Chris Jones’s late‑game execution.

Wainright, Jones Spark Hapoel’s gritty comeback over Efes

Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv didn’t just survive — it roared back to life in Sofia. In a bruising, momentum‑swinging battle, Coach Dimitris Itoudis’s squad erased a double‑digit deficit and powered past Anadolu Efes Istanbul 71–66 at Arena 8888. With the pressure rising, Hapoel delivered exactly the kind of resilient, hard‑nosed response you expect from a team sitting firmly at the top of the standings.

This wasn’t just a win; it was a statement about toughness and identity. Efes punched first, imposing its rhythm and freely exploiting mismatches inside as Pablo Laso’s power‑forward‑driven game plan opened cracks in Hapoel’s two‑center lineup. Ercan Osmani ignited a 2–13 run, Isaia Cordinier piled on, and suddenly Hapoel looked stuck searching for answers.

Then Saben Lee entered and the tension spiked. After a rough Round 22 showing, he came off the bench firing — and Efes rode that momentum. Lee buried shots, stretched the floor, and pushed his tally to 15 points by halftime, while Osmani’s interior scoring kept Hapoel off balance. At the break, Efes had all the control, and Hapoel had a mountain to climb.

"We had a bad approach for most of the time in the first half. I think we got it on in the third quarter and managed to keep them below 10 points after allowing 24 and 19 in the first two quarters," Coach Itoudis said. "Sometimes it looks like we play with fire, but we do have a defensive identity and don't bring it on the court from the beginning. That's another challenge. This is another lesson for us. But congratulations to the team that found a way to get another W because this is important as well."

Needing a more balanced lineup, Hapoel turned to Ish Wainwright, who played the entirety of the second half, except for the final 8 seconds. Wainwright delivered, scoring 11 of his 13 points after the break to put Hapoel on the right track. Once Wainright started to excel on defense, switching in pick-and-roll plays to go against guards and hitting three-pointers, everybody followed. Elijah Bryant and Dan Oturu helped Hapoel climb from a 35-45 deficit to go up 55-54 - its first lead since the first quarter.

Efes fought back and stayed in the game. Bryant split free throws to tie the game, 62-62, in the next-to-last minute. Coach Itoudis needed a go-to guy to finish the game, and Chris Jones took the role to lead Hapoel to a much-fought victory.

"As a player, you kind of hate being in those situations, especially at home, like late-game situations. But we were very resilient and believe in each other. It came to the end and I have great teammates around me. So it makes the offense a little easier," Jones said after the game. "I made a tough shot at the end, but you work on it. So went through and I'm happy we won."

<center>
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Wainright dove for a loose ball to force a jump ball situation against Osmani. Even though Osmani won the tip, the ball went straight to Jones, who scored at the other end. After Nick Weiler-Babb split foul shots, Jones buried a critical three-pointer off the dribble for a 67-63 score with 24.4 seconds left. Jones soon added a pair of free throws, which allowed the Hapoel fans to celebrate.

"I think we did a really good job of getting defense. Chris was able to lead us in the second half, organize us and most importantly, get the win," Bryant said. "We've always got to share the ball, trust each other more and get more stops on defense and then get out and run."

The win saw Hapoel remain atop the standings with its record improving to 16-6, while Efes dropped to 6-17, which is tied for last in the table.

Efes will try to end its seven-game losing streak at home against Olympiacos Piraeus on Thursday. A day later, Hapoel visits Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade.

Ish Wainright’s two way impact and Chris Jones’s clutch shooting fuel a comeback that keeps Hapoel in control of the race at the top

Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv v Anadolu Efes Istanbul (2026-01-20T17:30:00.000Z)

Zalgiris Kaunas breezed to a 77-96 road win at LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne and improved to 13-10 while the French side slipped to 6-17 after a fourth successive loss left the hosts languishing among the EuroLeague’s bottom teams.

Zalgiris storms through to demolish lackluster ASVEL 

[Zalgiris Kaunas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/zalgiris-kaunas/zal/) breezed to a 77-96 road win at [LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/ldlc-asvel-villeurbanne/asv/) and improved to 13-10 while the French side slipped to 6-17 after a fourth successive loss left the hosts languishing among the EuroLeague’s bottom teams.

ASVEL had won four of the previous five meetings between the two sides, but most recently lost this season’s reverse fixture in Kaunas 96-59 in October. Tuesday’s matchup in France was almost a carbon copy, with Zalgiris forging an insurmountable lead in the third quarter.

The visitors romped into a 2-17 lead and could do no wrong in the opening exchanges, whereas ASVEL looked all at sea at both ends of the court. The hosts then regained some of their composure and put together a 12-0 run which slashed the deficit to 41-45 at halftime, as [Thomas Heurtel](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/thomas-heurtel/klt/) led the charge to counter [Moses Wright](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/moses-wright/012878/)’s dominance in the paint for Zalgiris.

Any hopes the home team might have had of staging a comeback vanished in thin air in the third quarter as Zalgiris went on a 2-18 streak to lead 55-75 ahead of the final 10 minutes, with Wright toying with his markers. [Sylvain Francisco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/sylvain-francisco/007975/) netted ruthlessly from mid-range and downtown, emerging as the winning team’s top scorer on 20 points to go with 6 rebounds and 4 assists.

LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne-Zalgiris Kaunas | Round 23 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague

It was the unstoppable Wright who claimed the player of the game accolade, however, racking up 18 points and 7 boards while fellow big man [Azuolas Tubelis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/azuolas-tubelis/008192/) amassed 14 and 4. Wright acknowledged the fast and furious start by Zalgiris was crucial in forcing ASVEL on to the back foot for the rest of the contest.

“We played hard and physical, we got four steals early on and scored some easy transition baskets,” Wright said in his postgame comments. “We all came together in the locker room and talked about what we needed to do, then we executed. We’ll now try to put together a string of wins to get our momentum going.”

Francisco added: “We started really well but we’ve got to keep up the consistency. In the third quarter we took the game to them and we were aggressive, we punished them for their mistakes on offense. We’ve got to stay locked in because the upcoming game at Milan in less than 48 hours is going to be hard.”

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It was a disappointing night for the home team and its head coach Pierric Poupet, who stopped short of blasting his men for lack of guile after last week’s valiant effort on home court against league leader Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv, when ASVEL ran out of steam in the home stretch.

“It’s probably the first time this season that I didn’t recognize my team,” Poupet said. “I don’t think we came ready to play a game of EuroLeague intensity, so of course you get smacked. Somehow we succeeded not to lose by 40 points but the difference was huge today.”

Heurtel finished as the game’s top scorer on 21 points but to little avail as Zalgiris won the battle of the boards 34-27 while ASVEL committed 14 turnovers and managed only as many assists, playing second fiddle to the visitors who took better care of the ball (18 assists, 12 turnovers).

The Lithuanian side produced a pair of decisive runs in each half to subdue the home team

LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne v Zalgiris Kaunas (2026-01-20T19:00:00.000Z)

With Joel Bolomboy nearing a full return, Ebuka Izundu’s minutes could soon be under threat. But if his performance in Monaco is any indication, the EuroLeague rookie is not going to give them up easily.

Ebuka Izundu, Crvena Zvezda defense step up in OT win at Monaco

Just 11 days ago, [Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/crvena-zvezda-meridianbet-belgrade/red/) looked to have hit a wall. A 32-point drubbing at Zalgiris Kaunas, coming on the heels of a 17-point home loss to Valencia Basket three days earlier, raised real questions about where Sasa Obradovic’s team was headed.

Those doubts have eased quickly.

Crvena Zvezda showed its resilience last Thursday with a 96-104 road win over EA7 Emporio Armani Milan. That was followed by [the return of Joel Bolomboy from a long-term injury in ABA League action](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/joel-bolomboy-makes-injury-return-after-10-month-absence/) over the weekend. While Bolomboy was not on the game-day roster Tuesday night – meaning EuroLeague fans will have to wait a little longer to see him back – Zvezda delivered one of its most impressive results of the season: a 96-100 overtime victory at [AS Monaco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/as-monaco/mco/).

The win came against the hottest team in the EuroLeague, as Monaco entered the night riding a six-game winning streak.

AS Monaco-Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade | Round 23 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague

With Bolomboy nearing a full return, [Ebuka Izundu](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/ebuka-izundu/014029/)’s minutes could soon be under threat. But if his performance in Monaco is any indication, the EuroLeague rookie is not going to give them up easily.

In 21 minutes, Izundu recorded the first double-double of his EuroLeague career: 22 points and 12 rebounds for a PIR of 36 – all career highs. He added 1 assist, 1 steal and 1 block. While [Donatas Motiejunas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/donatas-motiejunas/lcz/), on loan at Zvezda from Monaco, did early damage in the paint, it was Izundu who took over from the second quarter onward.

Later, after [Nikola Mirotic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nikola-mirotic/000796/)’s turnaround jumper gave Monaco an 87-77 lead with 4:42 remaining, Izundu sparked the comeback. He followed with a tip-in, then finished through contact on a dunk, converting the free throw to make it a five-point game.

[Jordan Nwora](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/jordan-nwora/013363/) – better known for his scoring than his defense – came up with a huge block on [Matthew Strazel](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/matthew-strazel/008099/) and split a pair of free throws to pull Zvezda within four.

[Alpha Diallo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/alpha-diallo/011226/)’s three threatened to halt the momentum, but [Jared Butler](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/jared-butler/014163/) responded with a triple of his own despite a quiet night by his standards. Izundu then outworked everyone for a powerful put-back dunk to make it a one-possession game at 90–88 with 33 seconds left.

Strong defense from [Nikola Kalinic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nikola-kalinic/004866/) forced a five-second violation on Monaco’s inbound, and Butler struck again, shaking Diallo and finishing off the glass to tie the game. [Mike James](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mike-james/005985/) had a chance to win it at the buzzer, but his three-point attempt came up short.

In overtime, Nwora – who had gone 0-for-4 from deep in regulation – knocked down two huge three-pointers to give Crvena Zvezda a 92-96 edge. [Semi Ojeleye](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/semi-ojeleye/011982/) followed with a dunk off a clever [Codi Miller-McIntyre](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/codi-miller-mcintyre/009048/) pass, and Kalinic effectively sealed the win with a fastbreak layup as Zvezda closed it out 96-100.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Huge, huge, huge credit to @iam_buka15 tonight. 💪🏻<br><br>What a game from him! 🔥<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kkcz?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#kkcz</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreTheTeam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreTheTeam</a> <a href="https://t.co/Kwaca9hm5G">pic.twitter.com/Kwaca9hm5G</a></p>&mdash; KK Crvena zvezda Meridianbet (@kkcrvenazvezda) <a href="https://twitter.com/kkcrvenazvezda/status/2013712285768770014?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 20, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“A little bit stressful for us, and for me personally,” Izundu said afterward. “We had the lead, and if we kept it we wouldn’t be in this position. But they’re a really good team, one of the top four in the league. I’m just happy we were able to fight back, take the lead and win. It was very important for us. Now we have to put it behind us and move on to the next one.”

Obradovic, making his first return to Monaco since mutually agreeing to part ways in November 2024, was particularly encouraged by how his team elevated its defense late in regulation and into overtime. From Mirotic’s jumper with 4:42 remaining that made it 87–77 to [Kevarrius Hayes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/kevarrius-hayes/010390/)’s layup nearly two minutes into overtime, Monaco scored just three points – Diallo’s three.

“I would say we are in a different moment,” Obradovic said. “Especially in these two games – Milan and this one – the team showed great character at the end. If I’m not mistaken, in the last seven minutes or more they scored just six points, which is amazing for our defense. Everybody contributed. We have to continue with this confidence.”

The win moved Crvena Zvezda back into the play-in positions at 13-10. It will look to extend its resurgence Friday at Virtus Bologna.

Monaco, meanwhile, saw its six-game winning streak snapped and fell to 15-8, allowing Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv (16-6) to slightly widen its gap atop the EuroLeague standings. Vassilis Spanoulis’s team will try to respond Thursday night when it hosts Real Madrid.

Sasa Obradovic's team appears to have turned a corner

AS Monaco v Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade (2026-01-20T17:45:00.000Z)